Laundry pretreatment process and bleaching compositions

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a process for pretreating soiled fabrics with a liquid composition comprising a peroxygen bleach and a soil dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of an ethoxylated monoamine, an ethoxylated diamine, and ethoxylated polyamine, an ethoxylated amine polymer and mixtures thereof. This invention also discloses liquid compositions suitable for pretreating fabrics, comprising a peroxygen bleach, a surfactant, and a soil dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of an ethoxylated monoamine, an ethoxylated diamine, an ethoxylated polyamine, an ethoxylated amine polymer and mixtures thereof, said composition being formulated either as an emulsion or a microemulsion.

This Application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.08/663,501, filed Jun. 14, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,439, dated Jun.2, 1998.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to bleaching compositions particularlysuitable to be used as a pretreater and to a process of pretreatingfabrics.

BACKGROUND

A great variety of cleaning compositions have been described in the art,that are particularly suitable for pretreating fabrics.

For instance, EP-A-598170 discloses a particular type of cleaningcompositions which are aqueous emulsions of a nonionic surfactant systemfurther comprising hydrogen peroxide or water-soluble source thereof anda liquid bleach activator, or any other hydrophobic ingredient whichneeds to be separated from said hydrogen peroxide.

European patent application number 95203330.6 discloses a particulartype of cleaning compositions which are aqueous microemulsions of ableach activator in a matrix comprising water, hydrogen peroxide and ahydrophilic surfactant system.

However, a drawback associated with such emulsions or microemulsionscomprising a peroxygen bleach and a bleach activator, especially whenused in laundry pretreatment applications on different kinds of fabrics,e.g., cotton and/or synthetic fabrics (e.g., polyester/polyamides), isthat they do not deliver effective performance which satisfactorily meetconsumer's needs on all types of stains including greasy stains,enzymatic stains, mud/clay stains as well as bleachable stains. Indeed,there is still some room to further improve the stain removalperformance as well as the bleaching performance of suchbleach-containing compositions when pretreating a fabric therewith.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide improved stainremoval performance on a wide range of stains as well as improvedbleaching performance, especially under laundry pretreatment conditions,i.e., when applied neat onto at least a portion of a fabric beforewashing said fabric.

Furthermore, another problem associated with such emulsions and/ormicroemulsions especially with those containing relatively highconcentration of surfactants, e.g., about 8% or above, is that importantviscosity tends to build up, which makes said emulsions/microemulsionsdifficult to dispense, and thus unacceptable from a consumer viewpoint.

It is thus a further object of the present invention to provide liquidemulsions or microemulsions comprising a peroxygen bleach and asurfactant wherein the viscosity can be conveniently controlled whilemaintaining adequate physical stability.

It has now been found that improved stain removal performance isobtained, by using a liquid composition comprising a peroxygen bleachand a soil dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of anethoxylated monoamine, an ethoxylated diamine, an ethoxylated polyamine,an ethoxylated amine polymer and mixture thereof, as describedhereinafter, to pretreat soiled fabrics. Indeed, the addition of such asoil dispersing agent, in a liquid composition comprising a peroxygenbleach, and optionally a bleach activator, delivers improved stainremoval performance on various types of stains including greasy stains,enzymatic stains, clay/mud stains, and the like, under pretreatmentconditions, as compared to the stain removal performance delivered bythe same composition without said soil dispersing agent. Also, it hassurprisingly been found that the liquid compositions comprising both theperoxygen bleach and said soil dispersing agent, when used to pretreatfabrics, provide improved bleaching efficacy, as compared to the samecompositions without said soil dispersing agent. Thus, it has been foundthat the addition of a single compound, i.e., such a soil dispersingagent, in a peroxygen bleach-containing composition, delivers bothimproved stain removal performance and improved bleaching performance.Furthermore, it has been found that this improved stain removalperformance on various stains is maintained even for peroxygenbleach-containing compositions having undergone long storage time. It isthus speculated that the oxidized form of the soil suspeding agent thatmay have formed in the presence of a peroxygen bleach under long storagetime and/or elevated temperature still provides improved stain removalperformance on various types of stains. Thus, in its broadest aspect,the present invention encompasses a process for bleaching a fabric witha liquid composition comprising from 0.01% to 15% by weight of the totalcomposition of a peroxygen bleach, and a soil dispersing agent, saidprocess comprising the steps of applying said liquid composition in itsneat form onto at least one portion of said fabric, optionally allowingsaid composition to remain in contact with said fabric and then washingsaid fabric.

Furthermore, it has been found that the addition of a soil dispersingagent selected from the group consisting of an ethoxylated monoamine, anethoxylated diamine, an ethoxylated polyamine, an ethoxylated aminepolymer and mixture thereof, in a liquid composition formulated eitheras an emulsion or microemulsion, comprising a peroxygen bleach and asurfactant, reduces the viscosity of said composition, whatever theviscosity was before the addition of said soil dispersing agent.Actually, an advantage of the liquid compositions of the presentinvention formulated either as an emulsion or a microemulsion, is thatthey deliver improved stain removal performance and improved bleachingperformance while delivering acceptable viscosity, without the need toadd viscosity control agents. In other words, the present inventionallows to formulate emulsions or microemulsions with improved overallstain removal/bleaching performance and desirable physicalcharacteristics at reduced costs, i.e., without adding any viscositycontrol agent that would raise the cost formula and bulk to thecompositions without contributing to the bleaching/cleaning performanceof said compositions.

Another advantage of the present invention is that stable liquidemulsions or microemulsions are provided that are suitable to be used inthe most efficient manner by the consumer over prolonged period of time.

Yet another advantage of the compositions according to the presentinvention which are formulated as emulsions or microemulsions is thatthey provide also excellent cleaning and/or bleaching performance whenused in applications other than laundry pretreaters, such as in otherlaundry applications, as laundry detergents or laundry additives.

European patent application number 95870079.1 discloses laundrycompositions suitable for pretreating fabrics comprising polyamines andperoxygen bleach. No ethoxylated amines, ethoxylated polyamines orethoxylated amine polymers are disclosed.

U.S. application Ser. No. 08/663501 discloses pretreater compositionswith particular chelants, a peroxygen bleach, and optional ingredientslike bleach activators, polymeric soil releasing agents like sulfonatedpoly-ethoxy/propoxy end-capped ester oligomer. However, no ethoxylatedamines, ethoxylated polyamines, or ethoxylated amine polymers aredisclosed.

EP-A-271 312 discloses laundry compositions comprising a peroxyacidbleach and a soil release agent like particular alkyl and hydroxyalkylethers of cellulose, polymers comprising ethylene terephthalate andpolyethylene oxide terephthalate. No ethoxylated amines, ethoxylatedpolyamines or ethoxylated amine polymers are disclosed.

WO96/12004 discloses laundry compositions comprising a lipophilic enzymeana a primary and/or tertiary amine. These compositions provide enhancedcleaning of greasy/oily soils and stains, particularly when used inpretreatment laundering process for cleaning fabrics stained with greasysoils. The compositions exemplified comprise tetraethylenepentamineethoxylated (15-18) but no bleach.

EP-A-112 593 discloses detergent compositions (pH=6 to 8.5) comprisingethoxylated mono- or diamines, ethoxylated polyamines and/or ethoxylatedamine polymers as a clay soil removal/antiredeposition agent. Saidcompositions may be used in laundry pretreatment application. Noperoxygen bleaches are disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention encompasses a process of bleaching a fabric with aliquid composition comprising from 0.01% to 15% by weight of the totalcomposition of a peroxygen bleach, and a soil dispersing agent selectedfrom the group consisting of

(1) ethoxylated monoamines having the formula:

(X—L—)—N—(R²)₂

(2) ethoxylated diamines having the formula:

or

(X—L—)₂—N—R¹—N—(R²)₂

(3) ethoxylated polyamines having the formula:

(4) ethoxylated amine polymers having the general formula:

and (5) mixtures thereof,

R is H or C₁-C₄ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl; R1 is C₂-C₁₂ alkylene,hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, arylene or alkarylene, or a C₂-C₃oxyalkylene moiety having from 2 to 20 oxyalkylene units provided thatno O—N bonds are formed; each R² is C₁-C₄ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, themoiety —L—X, or two R² together form the moiety—(CH₂)_(r)—A²—(CH₂)_(s)—, wherein A² is —O — or —CH₂—, r is 1 or 2, s is1 or 2, and r+s is 3 or 4; X is a nonionic group, an anionic group ormixture thereof; R³ is substituted C₃-C₁₂ alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkenyl,aryl, or alkaryl group having p substitution sites; R⁴ is C₁-C₁₂alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, arylene or alkarylene, or a C₂-C₃oxyalkylene moiety have from 2 to 20 oxyalkylene units provided that noO—O — or O—N bonds are formed; L is a hydrophilic chain which containsthe polyoxyalkylene moiety —[(R⁵O)_(m)(CH₂CH₂O)_(n)]—, wherein R⁵ isC₃-C₄ alkylene or hydroxyalkylene and m and n are numbers such that themoiety —(CH₂CH₂O)_(n)— comprises at least 50% by weight of saidpolyoxyalkylene moiety; for said monoamines, m is from 0 to 4, and n isat least 12; for said diamines, m is from 0 to 3, and n is at least 6when R¹ is C₂-C₃ alkylene hydroxyalkylene, or alkenylene, and at least 3when R¹ is other than C₂-C₃ alkylene, hydroxyalkylene or alkenylene; forsaid polyamines and amine polymers, m is from 0 to 10 and n is at least3; p is from 3 to 8; q is 1 or 0; t is 1 or 0, provided that t is 1 whenq is 1; w is 1 or 0; x+y+z is at least 2; and y+z is at least 2, saidprocess comprising the steps of applying said composition in its neatform onto at least a portion of said fabric, before said fabric iswashed.

The present invention encompasses a liquid composition suitable forpretreating fabrics, comprising a peroxygen bleach, a surfactant and asoil dispersing agent selected from the group consisting of anethoxylated monoamine, an ethoxylated diamine, an ethoxylated polyamine,an ethoxylated amine polymers and mixture thereof as previously defined,said composition being formulated either as an emulsion or amicroemulsion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Laundry Pretreatment Process

In its broadest embodiment, the present invention relates to a processof pretreating a fabric with a liquid composition comprising a soildispersing agent, as defined herein, and from 0.01% to 15% by weight ofthe total composition of a peroxygen bleach.

By “pretreating a fabric” it is to be understood that the liquidcomposition herein is applied in its neat form onto at least a portionof a soiled fabric, optionally left to act onto said fabric typicallyfor a period of time of 1 minute t o several hours, before said fabricis washed, as described hereinafter, in the process of bleaching fabricsaccording to the present invention.

Indeed, the present invention is based on the finding that by adding asoil dispersing agent, as described herein, in a liquid compositioncomprising a peroxygen bleach, improved stain removal performance isobtained with said composition when used to pretreat a soiled fabricbefore said fabric is washed, as compared to the stain removalperformance delivered with the same composition without said soildispersing agent.

By “stain removal performance” it is meant herein stain removalperformance on a variety of stains/soils such as greasy/oily stains,and/or enzymatic stains and/or mud/clay stains as well as bleachablestains.

By “greasy/oily stains” it is meant herein any soil and stain of greasynature that can be found on a fabric like dirty motor oil, mineral oil,make-up, lipstick vegetal oil, spaghetti sauce, mayonnaise and the like.

Examples of bleachable stains include tea, coffee, wine and the like.Examples of enzymatic stains include grass, chocolate and blood.

The stain removal performance of a given composition on a soiled fabricunder pretreatment conditions, may be evaluated by the following testmethod. A composition according to the present invention is firstapplied to the stained portion of said fabric, left to act from about 1to about 10 minutes, typically 5 minutes, and said pretreated fabric isthen washed according to common washing conditions with a conventionaldetergent composition, at a temperature of from 30° C. to 70° C. for aperiod of time sufficient to bleach said fabric. For example, typicalsoiled fabrics to be used in this stain removal performance test methodmay be commercially available from EMC (Empirical Manufacturing Company)Cincinnati, Ohio, USA such as clay, chocolate, spaghetti sauce, dirtymotor oil, make-up, tea, coffee, blood on two differentsubstrate/fabric, e.g., cotton (CW120) and polycotton (PCW28).

The stain removal performance may then be evaluated by comparing side byside the soiled fabric pretreated with the composition according to thepresent invention with those pretreated with the reference, e.g., thesame composition without such a soil dispersing a gent according to thepresent invention. A visual grading scale may be used to assigndifferences in panel score units (psu), in a range from 0 to 4.

Accordingly, the present invention encompasses a process of bleaching afabric with a liquid composition comprising from 0.01% to 15% by weightof the total composition of a peroxygen bleach and a soil dispersingagent, as defined herein, said process comprises the steps of applyingsaid composition in its neat form onto at least a portion of saidfabric, optionally allowing said composition to remain in contact withsaid fabric preferably without leaving said composition to dry onto saidfabric, before said fabric is washed.

Said composition may remain in contact with said fabric, typically for aperiod of 1 minute to several hours, preferably 1 minute to 1 hour, morepreferably 1 minute to 30 minutes, and most preferably 2 to 10 minutes.Optionally, when the fabric is soiled with encrusted stains/soils whichotherwise would be relatively difficult to remove, said composition maybe rubbed and/or brushed more or less intensively, for example, by meansof a sponge or a brush or simply by rubbing two pieces of fabric eachagainst the other.

By “washing” it is to be understood herein to simply rinse the fabricwith water, or the fabric may be washed with a conventional compositioncomprising at least one surface active agent, this by the means of awashing machine o r simply by hand.

By “sin its neat form” it is to be understood that the liquidcompositions are applied directly onto the fabrics to be pre-treatedwithout undergoing any dilution, e.g., the liquid compositions accordingto the present invention are applied as described herein.

According to the process of pretreating soiled fabrics of the presentinvention, the liquid compositions used in said process shouldpreferably not be left to dry onto the fabrics. Indeed, it has beenfound that water evaporation contributes to increase the concentrationof free radicals onto the surface of the fabrics and, consequently, therate of chain reaction. It is also speculated that an auto-oxidationreaction occurs upon evaporation of water when the liquid compositionsare left to dry onto the fabrics. Said reaction of auto-oxidationcontributes to generate peroxy-radicals which may cause color damageand/or fabric damage. Thus, not leaving the liquid bleachingcompositions used according to the present invention to dry onto thefabrics, in the process of bleaching fabrics according to the presentinvention would result in a safer pretreating operation with liquidbleaching compositions.

As an essential element the compositions to be used according to thepresent invention comprise a peroxygen bleach or mixtures thereof.

The peroxygen bleach to be used herein is any peroxygen bleach, known tothose skilled in the art. Such peroxygen bleach includes hydrogenperoxide, or a water-soluble source thereof, or mixtures thereof.Indeed, the presence of the peroxygen bleach contributes to theexcellent cleaning and bleaching benefits of the compositions usedaccording to the present invention. As used herein a hydrogen peroxidesource refers to any compound which produces perhydroxyl ions when saidcompound is in contact with water.

Suitable water-soluble sources of hydrogen peroxide for use hereininclude percarbonates, persilicate, persulphate such as monopersulfate,perborates, peroxyacids such as diperoxydodecandioic acid (DPDA),magnesium perphtalic acid, perlauric acid, perbenzoic andalkylperbenzoic acids, hydroperoxides, diacyl peroxides and mixturesthereof. Preferred peroxygen bleaches used herein are hydrogen peroxide,hydroperoxide and/or aliphatic diacyl peroxide.

Suitable hydroperoxides for use herein are tert-butyl hydroperoxide,cumyl hydroperoxide, 2,4,4-trimethylpentyl-2-hydroperoxide,di-isopropylbenzene-monohydroperoxide, tert-amyl hydroperoxide and2,5-dimethyl-hexane-2,5-dihydroperoxide. Such hydroperoxides have theadvantage to be particularly safe to fabrics and color while deliveringexcellent bleaching performance.

Suitable aliphatic diacyl peroxides for use herein are dilauroylperoxide, didecanoyl peroxide, dimyristoyl peroxide or mixtures thereof.Such aliphatic diacyl peroxides have the advantage to be particularlysafe to fabrics and color while delivering excellent bleachingperformance.

The compositions used according to the present invention comprise from0.01% to 1 5% by weight of the total composition of such a peroxygenbleach or mixtures thereof, preferably from 0.1% to 12%, more preferablyfrom 0.5% to 10% and most preferably from 2% to 8%.

As an essential element the compositions to be used according to thepresent invention comprise a soil dispersing agent selected from thegroup consisting of ethoxylated monoamines, ethoxylated diamines,ethoxylated polyamines, ethoxylated amine polymers, as previouslydefined and mixtures thereof. Indeed, the presence of said soildispersing agent contributes to the excellent cleaning and bleachingbenefits of the compositions used according to the present invention.

In the preceding formulas of the soil dispersing agent used herein, R¹can be branched

or most preferably linear

alkylene, hydroxyalkylene, alkenylene, alkarylene or oxyalkylene. R¹ ispreferably C₂-C₆ alkylene for the ethoxylated diamines and aminepolymers. For the ethoxylated diamines, the minimum degree ofethoxylation required for suitable soil removal/anti-redepositionproperties decreases on going from C₂-C₃ alkylene (ethylene, propylene)to hexamethylene. However, for the ethoxylated amine polymers, inparticular the ethoxylated polyalkyleneamines and polyalkyleneimines,especially at higher molecular weights, C₂-C₃ alkylene (ethylene,propylene) are preferred for R¹ with ethylene being most preferred. EachR² is preferably the moiety —L—X.

In the preceding formulas, hydrophilic chain L usually consists entirelyof the polyoxyalkylene moiety —[(R⁵O)_(m)(CH₂CH₂—O)_(n)]. The moieties—(R⁵O)_(m)— and —(CH₂CH₂O)_(n)— of the polyoxyalkylene moiety can bemixed together or preferably form blocks of —(R⁵O)_(m)— and—(CH₂CH₂O)_(n)— moieties. R⁵ is preferably C₃H₆ (propylene). For theethoxylated polyamines and amine polymers, m is preferably from 0 to 5.For all ethoxylated amines of the present invention, m is mostpreferably 0, i.e. the polyoxyalkylene moiety consists entirely of themoiety —(CH₂CH₂O)_(n)—. The moiety —(CH₂CH₂O)_(n)— preferably comprisesat least 85% by weight of the polyoxyalkylene moiety and most preferably100% by weight (m is O).

In the preceding formula, X can be any compatible nonionic group,anionic group or mixture thereof. Suitable nonionic groups include C₁-C₄alkyl or hydroxyalkyl ester or ether groups, preferably acetate ormethyl ether, respectively; hydrogen (H); or mixtures thereof. Theparticularly preferred nonionic group is H. With regard to anionicgroups, PO₃ ⁻² and SO₃ ⁻ are suitable. The particularly preferredanionic group is SO₃ ⁻. It has been found that the percentage of anionicgroups relative to nonionic groups can be important to the soilremoval/anti-redeposition properties provided by the ethoxylated amine.A mixture of from 0 to 30% anionic groups and from 70 to 100% nonionicgroups provides preferred properties. A mixture of from 5 to 10% anionicgroups and from 90 to 95% nonionic groups provides the most preferredproperties. Usually, a mixture of from 0 to 80% anionic groups and from20 to 100% nonionic groups provides suitable soilremoval/anti-redeposition properties.

Preferred ethoxylated mono- and diamines have the formula:

wherein X and n are defined as before, a is 0 or 1 and b is from 0 to 4.For preferred ethoxylated monoamines (a=0), n is at least 15, with atypical range of from 15 to 35. For preferred ethoxylated diamines(a=1), n is at least 12 with a typical range of from 12 to 42.

Methods for making ethoxylated amines are for example described inEP-A-112 593.

In the preceding formula for the ethoxylated polyamines, R³ (linear,branched, or cyclic) is preferably a substituted C₃-C₆ alkyl,hydroxyalkyl or aryl group; A¹ is preferably

n is preferably at least 12, with a typical range of from 12 to 42; p ispreferably from 3 to 6. When R³ is a substituted aryl or alkaryl group,q is preferably 1 and R⁴ is preferably C₂-C₃ alkylene. When R³ is analkyl, hydroxyalkyl, or alkenyl group, and when q is 0, R¹ is preferablya C₂-C₃ oxyalkylene moiety; when q is 1, R⁴ is preferably C₂-C₃alkylene.

These ethoxylated polyamines can be derived from polyamino amides suchas:

These ethoxylated polyamines can also be derived frompolyaminopropylene-oxide derivatives such as:

—OC₃H₆)_(c)—NH₂

CH₃—(OC₃H₆)_(c—NH) ₂

—(OC₃H₆)_(c)—NH₂

wherein each c is a number from 2 to 20.

Preferred ethoxylated amine polymers are the ethoxylated C₂-C₃polyalkyleneamines and polyalkyleneimines Particularly preferredethoxylated polyalkyleneamines and polyalkyleneimines are theethoxylated polyethyleneamines (PEA's) and polyethyleneimines (PEI's).These preferred compounds comprise units having the general formula:

wherein X, w, x, y, z and n are defined as before.

Prior to ethoxylation, the PEAs used in preparing compounds of thepresent invention have the following general formula:

wherein x+y+z is from 2 to 9, y+z is from 2 to 9 and w is 0 or 1(molecular weight of from 100 to 400). Each hydrogen atom attached toeach nitrogen atom represents an active site for subsequentethoxylation. For preferred PEAs, y+z is from 3 to 7 (molecular weightof from 140 to 310) and most prefarably from 3 to 4 (molecular weight offrom 140 to 200). These PEA's can be obtained by reactions involvingammonia and ethylene dichloride, followed by fractional distillation.The common PEA's obtained are triethylenetetramine (TETA) andtetraethylenepentamine (TEPA). Above the pentamines, i.e., thehexamines, heptamines, octamines and possibly nonamines, thecogenerically derived mixture does not appear to separate bydistillation and can include other materials such as cyclic amines andparticularly piperazines. There can also be present cyclic amines withside chains in which nitrogen atoms appear. See U.S. Pat. No. 2,792,372to Dickson, issued May 14, 1957, which describes the preparation ofPEAs.

The minimum degree of ethoxylation required for preferred soilremoval/anti-redeposition performance can vary depending upon the numberof units in the PEA. Where y+z is 2 or 3, n is preferably at least about6. Where y+z is from 4 to 9, suitable benefits are achieved when n is atleast 3. For most preferred ethoxylated PEAs, n is at least 12, with atypical range of from 12 to 42.

The PEIs used in preparing the compounds of the present invention have amolecular weight of at least 440 prior to ethoxylation, which representsat least 10 units. Preferred PEIs used in preparing these compounds havea molecular weight of from 600 to 1800. The polymer backbone of thesePEIs can be represented by the general formula:

wherein the sum of x, y, and z represents a number of sufficientmagnitude to yield a polymer having the molecular weights previouslyspecified. Although linear polymer backbones are possible, branch chainscan also occur. The relative proportions of primary, secondary andtertiary amine groups present in the polymer can vary, depending on themanner of preparation. The distribution of amine groups is typically asfollows:

Each hydrogen atom attached to each nitrogen atom of the PEI representsan active site for subsequent ethoxylation. These PEIs can be prepared,for example, by polymerizing ethyleneimine in the presence of a catalystsuch as carbon dioxide, sodium bisulfite, sulfuric acid, hydrogenperoxide, hydrochloric acid or acetic acid. Specific methods forpreparing PEIs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,182,306 to Ulrich etal., issued Dec. 5, 1939; U.S. Pat. No. 3,033,746 to Mayle et al.,issued May 8, 1962; U.S. Pat. No. 2,208,095 to Esselmann et al., issuedJul. 16, 1940; U.S. Pat. No. 2,806,839 to Crowther, issued Sep. 17,1957; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,553,696 to Wilson, issued May. 21, 1951.

As defined in the preceding formulas, n is at least 3 for theethoxylated PEIs. However, it should be noted that the minimum degree ofethoxylation required for suitable soil removal/anti-redepositionperformance can increase as the molecular weight of the PEI increases,especially much beyond 1800. Also, the degree of ethoxylation forpreferred compounds increases as the molecular weight of the PEIincreases. For PEIs having a molecular weight of at least 600, n ispreferably at least 12, with a typical range of from 12 to 42. For PEIshaving a molecular weight of at least 1800, n is preferably at least 24,with a typical range of from 24 to 42.

Typically, the compositions used according to the present inventioncomprise from 0.01% to 20% by weight of the total composition of such asoil dispersing agent or mixtures thereof, preferably from 0.1% to 10%,more preferably 0.2% to 4% and most preferably from 0.5% to 2%.

The liquid compositions used according to the process of the presentinvention are preferably aqueous compositions. The compositions used inthe process herein have a pH of from 0 to 6, preferably from 1 to 5, andmore preferably from 2 to 5 and most preferably from 3 to 5. Acidiccompositions are preferred herein for stability reasons.

The compositions used according to the present invention may compriseoptional ingredients like bleach activators, surfactants, perfumes,brighteners, chelating agents, radical scavengers, stabilisers, soilsuspenders, dye transfer agents, solvents, dyes, other amines, ormixtures thereof. Preferred optional ingredients are further describedin more details hereinafter.

The compositions

The present invention also encompasses a liquid composition suitable forpretreating fabrics, comprising a peroxygen bleach, a soil dispersingagent selected from the group consisting of an ethoxylated monoamine, anethoxylated diamine, an ethoxylated polyamine, an ethoxylated aminepolymer and mixture thereof, as defined hereinbefore, and a surfactant,said composition being formulated either as an emulsion or amicroemulsion.

It is by adding such a soil dispersing agent in a liquid compositioncomprising a peroxygen bleach, a surfactant and being formulated eitheras an emulsion or a microemulsion, that not only improved stain removalperformance is obtained especially under pretreatment conditions, onvarious stains including greasy stains, enzymatic stains, clay/mudstains as well as improved bleaching performance but also desirableviscosity is achieved.

It has now been found that the soil dispersing agents according to thepresent invention are easily processed in a composition being formulatedeither as an emulsion or a microemulsion, while providing theappropriate viscosity, i.e., the viscosity of said composition isreduced, whatever the viscosity was before the addition of said soildispersing agents into said composition comprising a peroxygen bleachand a surfactant.

Any surfactant or a mixture thereof known to those skilled in the artare suitable to be used in the compositions of the present inventionbeing formulated either as an emulsion or a microemulsion includinganionic, nonionic, cationic, amphotheric, zwitternionic surfactants at alevel of from 0.01% to 50% by weight of the total composition,preferably from 1% to 30%, and more preferably from 2% to 20%.Preferably a surfactant system is used in the compositions according tothe present invention comprising at least one hydrophilic surfactant andat least one hydrophobic surfactant. Said two surfactants in order toform emulsions or microemulsions which are stable preferably havedifferent HLB values (hydrophilic lipophilic balance) and typically thedifference in value of the HLBs of said two surfactants is at least 1,preferably at least 2 and most preferably at least 3.

By “hydrophobic surfactant” it is meant herein a surfactant having anHLB up to 10 or mixtures thereof, preferably below 10, more preferablybelow 9. Indeed, the hydrophobic surfactants to be used herein haveexcellent grease cutting properties, i.e., they have a solvent effectwhich contributes to hydrophobic soil removal.

By “hydrophilic surfactant” it is meant herein a surfactant having anHLB above 10 or mixtures thereof, preferably above 10.5, and morepreferably above 11.

Typically, the compositions according to the present inventionformulated either as an emulsion or a microemulsion comprise from 1% to50% by weight of the total composition of said hydrophilic andhydrophobic surfactants, more preferably from 5% to 40% and mostpreferably from 8% to 30%. The preferred compositions according to thepresent invention comprise at least from 0.01% by weight of the totalcomposition of said hydrophobic surfactant, or mixtures thereof,preferably at least 2% and more preferably at least 4% and at least from0.01% by weight of the total composition of said hydrophilic surfactant,or mixtures thereof, preferably at least 2%, and more preferably atleast 4%.

Accordingly, particularly preferred surfactants to be used in thecompositions according to the present invention are nonionicsurfactants. Indeed, suitable nonionic surfactants for use hereininclude alkoxylated fatty alcohols preferably, fatty alcohol ethoxylatesand/or propoxylates. Indeed, a great variety of such alkoxylated fattyalcohols are commercially available which have very different HLB values(hydrophilic/lipophilic balance). The HLB values of such alkoxylatednonionic surfactants depend essentially on the chain length of the fattyalcohol, the nature of the alkoxylation and the degree of alkoxylation.Hydrophilic nonionic surfactants tend to have a high degree ofalkoxylation and a short chain fatty alcohol, while hydrophobicsurfactants tend to have a low degree of alkoxylation and a long chainfatty alcohol. Surfactant catalogs are available which list a number ofsurfactants including nonionics, together with their respective HLBvalues.

Suitable chemical processes for preparing the nonionic surfactants foruse herein include condensation of corresponding alcohols with alkyleneoxide, in the desired proportions. Such processes are well-known to theman skilled in the art and have been extensively described in the art.As an alternative, a great variety of alkoxylated alcohols suitable foruse herein is commercially available from various suppliers.

Preferred hydrophobic nonionic surfactants to be used in thecompositions according to the present invention are surfactants havingan HLB up to 10 and being according to the formulaRO—(C₂H₄O)_(n)(C₃H₆O)_(m)H, wherein R is a C₆ to C₂₂ alkyl chain or a C₆to C₂₈ alkyl benzene chain, and wherein n+m is from 0.5 to 5 and n isfrom 0 to 5 and m is from 0 to 5 and preferably n+m is from 0.5 to 4.5and, n and m are from 0 to 4.5. The preferred R chains for use hereinare the C₈ to C₂₂ alkyl chains. Accordingly, suitable hydrophobicnonionic surfactants for use herein are Dobanol^(R) 91-2.5 (HLB=8.1; Ris a mixture of C₉ and C₁₁ alkyl chains, n is 2.5 and m is 0), orLutensol^(R)TO3 (HLB=8; R is a mixture of C₁₃ and C₁₅ alkyl chains, n is3 and m is 0), or Tergitol^(R) 25L3 (HLB=7.7; R is in the range of C₁₂to C₁₅ alkyl chain length, n is 3 and m is 0), or Dobanol^(R) 23-3(HLB=8.1; R is a mixture of C₁₂ and C₁₃ alkyl chains, n is 3 and m is0), or Dobanol^(R) 23-2 (HLB=6.2; R is a mixture of C₁₂ and C₁₃ alkylchains, n is 2 and m is 0), or mixtures thereof. Preferred herein areDobanol^(R) 23-3, or Dobanol^(R) 23-2, Lutensol^(R)TO3, or mixturesthereof. These Dobanol^(R) surfactants are commercially available fromSHELL. These Lutensol^(R) surfactants are commercially available fromBASF and these Tergitol^(R) surfactants are commercially available fromUNION CARBIDE. Other suitable hydrophobic nonionic surfactants to beused herein are non alkoxylated surfactants. An example is Dobanol^(R)23(HLB<3).

Preferred hydrophilic nonionic surfactants to be used in thecompositions according to the present invention are surfactants havingan HLB above 10 and being according to the formulaRO—(C₂H₄O)_(n)(C₃H₆O)_(m)H, wherein R is a C₆ to C₂₂ alkyl chain or a C₆to C₂₈ alkyl benzene chain, and wherein n+m is from 5 to 11 and n isfrom 0 to 11 and m is from 0 to 11, preferably n+m is from 6 to 10 and,n and m are from 0 to 10. Throughout this description n and m refer tothe average degree of the ethoxylation/propoxylation. The preferred Rchains for use herein are the C₈ to C₂₂ alkyl chains. Accordingly,suitable hydrophilic nonionic surfactants for use herein are Dobanol^(R)23-6.5 (HLB =11.9 ; R is a mixture of C₁₂ and C₁₃ alkyl chains, n is 6.5and m is 0), or Dobanol^(R) 25-7 (HLB=12 ; R is a mixture of C₁₂ to C₁₅alkyl chains, n is 7 and m is 0), or Dobanol^(R) 45-7 (HLB=11.6 ; R is amixture of C₁₄ and C₁₅ alkyl chains, n is 7 and m is 0), or Dobanol^(R)91-5 (HLB=11.6 ; R is a mixture of C₉ to C₁₁ alkyl chains, n is 5 and mis 0), or Dobanol^(R) 91-6 (HLB=12.5 ; R is a mixture of C₉ to C₁₁ alkylchains, n is 6 and m is 0), or Dobanol^(R) 91-8 (HLB=13.7; R is amixture of C₉ to C₁₁ alkyl chains, n is 8 and m is 0), or Dobanol^(R)91-10 (HLB=14.2 ; R is a mixture of C₉ to C₁₁ alkyl chains, n is 10 andm is 0), or mixtures thereof. Preferred herein are Dobanol^(R) 91-10, orDobanol^(R) 45-7, Dobanol^(R) 23-6.5, or mixtures thereof. TheseDobanol^(R) surfactants are commercially available from SHELL.

Apart from the hydrophilic nonionic surfactants other hydrophilicsurfactants may further be used in the compositions of the presentinvention such as polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants, or mixturesthereof, according to the formula

R²—C(O)—N(R¹)—Z,

wherein R¹ is H, or C₁-C₄ alkyl, C₁-C₄ hydrocarbyl, 2-hydroxy ethyl,2-hydroxy propyl or a mixture thereof, R² is C₅-C₃₁ hydrocarbyl, and Zis a polyhydroxyhydrocarbyl having a linear hydrocarbyl chain with atleast 3 hydroxyls directly connected to the chain, or an alkoxylatedderivative thereof.

Preferably, R¹ is C₁-C₄ alkyl, more preferably C₁ or C₂ alkyl and mostpreferably methyl, R² is a straight chain C₇-C₁₉ alkyl or alkenyl,preferably a straight chain C₉-C₁₈ alkyl or alkenyl, more preferably astraight chain C₁₁-C₁₈ alkyl or alkenyl, and most preferably a straightchain C₁₁-C₁₄ alkyl or alkenyl, or mixtures thereof. Z preferably willbe derived from a reducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction; morepreferably Z is a glycityl. Suitable reducing sugars include glucose,fructose, maltose, lactose, galactose, mannose and xylose. As rawmaterials, high dextrose corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, and highmaltose corn syrup can be utilised as well as the individual sugarslisted above. These corn syrups may yield a mix of sugar components forZ. It should be understood that it is by no means intended to excludeother suitable raw materials. Z preferably will be selected from thegroup consisting of —CH₂—(CHOH)_(n)—CH₂OH,—CH(CH₂OH)—(CHOH)_(n−1)—CH₂OH, —CH₂—(CHOH)₂—(CHOR′)(CHOH)—CH₂OH, where nis an integer from 3 to 5, inclusive, and R′ is H or a cyclic oraliphatic monosaccharide, and alkoxylated derivatives thereof. Mostpreferred are glycityls wherein n is 4, particularly CH₂—(CHOH)₄—CH₂OH.

In formula R²—C(O)—N(R¹)—Z, R¹ can be, for example, N-methyl, N-ethyl,N-propyl, N-isopropyl, N-butyl, N-2-hydroxy ethyl, or N-2-hydroxypropyl. R²—C(O)—N< can be, for example, cocamide, stearamide, oleamide,lauramide, myristamide, capricamide, palmitamide, tallowamide and thelike. Z can be 1-deoxyglucityl, 2-deoxyfructityl, 1-deoxymaltityl, 1-deoxylactityl, 1 -deoxygaiactityl, 1-deoxymannityl,1-deoxymaltotriotityl and the like.

Suitable polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants to be used herein maybe commercially available under the trade name HOE® from Hoechst.

Methods for making polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactants are known inthe art. In general, they can be made by reacting an alkyl amine with areducing sugar in a reductive amination reaction to form a correspondingN-alkyl polyhydroxyamine, and then reacting the N-alkyl polyhydroxyaminewith a fatty aliphatic ester or triglyceride in a condensation/amidationstep to form the N-alkyl, N-polyhydroxy fatty acid amide product.Processes for making compositions containing polyhydroxy fatty acidamides are disclosed for example in GB patent specification 809,060,published Feb. 18, 1959, by Thomas Hedley & Co., Ltd., U.S. Pat. No.2,965,576, issued Dec. 20, 1960 to E. R. Wilson, U.S. Pat. No.2,703,798, Anthony M. Schwartz, issued Mar. 8, 1955, U.S. Pat. No.1,985,424, issued Dec. 25, 1934 to Piggott and WO92/06070, each of whichis incorporated herein by reference.

Other suitable hydrophilic surfactants to be used in the compositionsherein include the anionic surfactants and mixtures thereof.

Suitable anionic surfactants to be used in the compositions hereininclude water-soluble salts or acids of the formula ROSO₃M wherein Rpreferably is a C₁₀-C₂₄ hydrocarbyl, preferably an alkyl or hydroxyalkylhaving a C₁₀-C₂₀ alkyl component, more preferably a C₁₂-C₁₈ alkyl orhydroxyalkyl, and M is H or a cation, e.g., an alkali metal cation(e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium), or ammonium or substituted ammonium(e.g., methyl-, dimethyl-, and trimethyl ammonium cations and quaternaryammonium cations, such as tetramethyl-ammonium and dimethyl piperdiniumcations and quaternary ammonium cations derived from alkylamines such asethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, and mixtures thereof, and thelike). Typically, alkyl chains of C₁₂-C₁₆ are preferred for lower washtemperatures (e.g., below about 50° C.) and C_(16-C) ₁₈ alkyl chains arepreferred for higher wash temperatures (e.g., above about 50° C.).

Other suitable anionic surfactants for use herein are water-solublesalts or acids of the formula RO(A)_(m)SO₃M wherein R is anunsubstituted C₁₀-C₂₄ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl group having a C₁₀-C₂₄ alkylcomponent, preferably a C₁₂-C₂₀ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, more preferablyC₁₂-C₈ alkyl or hydroxyalkyl, A is an ethoxy or propoxy unit, m isgreater than zero, typically between about 0.5 and about 6, morepreferably between about 0.5 and about 3, and M is H or a cation whichcan be, for example, a metal cation (e.g., sodium, potassium, lithium,calcium, magnesium, etc.), ammonium or substituted-ammonium cation.Alkyl ethoxylated sulfates as well as alkyl propoxylated sulfates arecontemplated herein. Specific examples of substituted ammonium cationsinclude methyl-, dimethyl-, trimethyl-ammonium and quaternary ammoniumcations, such as tetramethyl-ammonium, dimethyl piperdinium and cationsderived from alkanolamines such as ethylamine, diethylamine,triethylamine, mixtures thereof, and the like. Exemplary surfactants areC₁₂-C₁₈ alkyl polyethoxylate (1.0) sulfate, C₁₂-C₁₈E(1.0)M), C₁₂-C₁₈alkyl polyethoxylate (2.25) sulfate, C₁₂-C₁₈ E(2.25)M), C₁₂-C₁₈ alkylpolyethoxylate (3.0) sulfate C₁₂-C₁₈E(3.0), and C₁₂-C₁₈ alkylpolyethoxylate (4.0) sulfate C₁₂-C₁₈E(4.0)M), wherein M is convenientlyselected from sodium and potassium.

Other anionic surfactants useful for detersive purposes can also be usedherein. These can include salts (including, for example, sodium,potassium, ammonium, and substituted ammonium salts such as mono-, di-and triethanolamine salts) of soap, C₉-C₂₀ linearalkylbenzenesulfonates, C₈-C₂₂ primary or secondary alkanesulfonates,C₈-C₂₄ olefinsulfonates, sulfonated polycarboxylic acids prepared bysulfonation of the pyrolyzed product of alkaline earth metal citrates,e.g., as described in British patent specification No. 1,082,179, C₈-C₂₄alkylpolyglycolethersulfates (containing up to 10 moles of ethyleneoxide); alkyl ester sulfonates such as C₁₄₋₁₆ methyl ester sulfonates;acyl glycerol sulfonates, fatty oleyl glycerol sulfates, alkyl phenolethylene oxide ether sulfates, paraffin sulfonates, alkyl phosphates,isethionates such as the acyl isethionates, N-acyl taurates, alkylsuccinamates and sulfosuccinates, monoesters of sulfosuccinate(especially saturated and unsaturated C₁₂-C₁₈ monoesters) diesters ofsulfosuccinate (especially saturated and unsaturated C₆-C₁₄ diesters),sulfates of alkylpolysaccharides such as the sulfates ofalkylpolyglucoside (the nonionic nonsulfated compounds being describedbelow), branched primary alkyl sulfates, alkyl polyethoxy carboxylatessuch as those of the formula RO(CH₂CH₂O)_(k)CH₂COO-M⁺ wherein R is aC₈-C₂₂ alkyl, k is an integer from 0 to 10, and M is a solublesalt-forming cation. Resin acids and hydrogenated resin acids are alsosuitable, such as rosin, hydrogenated rosin, and resin acids andhydrogenated resin acids present in or derived from tall oil. Furtherexamples are given in “Surface Active Agents and Detergents” (Vol. I andII by Schwartz, Perry and Berch). A variety of such surfactants are alsogenerally disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,678, issued Dec. 30, 1975 toLaughlin, et al. at Column 23, line 58 through Column 29, line 23(herein incorporated by reference).

Other suitable anionic surfactants to be used herein also include acylsarcosinate or mixtures thereof, in its acid and/or salt form,preferably long chain acyl sarcosinates having the following formula:

wherein M is hydrogen or a cationic moiety and wherein R is an alkylgroup of from 11 to 15 carbon atoms, preferably of from 11 to 13 carbonatoms. Preferred M are hydrogen and alkali metal salts, especiallysodium and potassium. Said acyl sarcosinate surfactants are derived fromnatural fatty acids and the amino-acid sarcosine (N-methyl glycine).They are suitable to be used as aqueous solution of their salt or intheir acidic form as powder. Being derivatives of natural fatty acids,said acyl sarcosinates are rapidly and completely biodegradable and havegood skin compatibility.

Accordingly, particularly preferred long chain acyl sarcosinates to beused herein include C₁₂ acyl sarcosinate (i.e. an acyl sarcosinateaccording to the above formula wherein M is hydrogen and R is an alkylgroup of 11 carbon atoms) and C₁₄ acyl sarcosinate (i.e. an acylsarcosinate according to the above formula wherein M is hydrogen and Ris an alkyl group of 13 carbon atoms). C₁₂ acyl sarcosinate iscommercially available, for example, as Hamposyl L-30® supplied byHampshire. C₁₄ acyl sarcosinate is commercially available, for example,as Hamposyl M-30® supplied by Hampshire.

It has been obseryed that further improved stain removal performance isachieved with a surfactant system comprising a hydrophilic nonionicsurfactant and a hydrophobic nonionic surfactant as well as a furtherhydrophilic surfactant like a polyhydroxy fatty acid amide surfactantand/or an alkyl ethoxylated sulphate.

The bleaching compositions of the present invention may further comprisean amine oxide surfactant according to the formula R1R2R3NO, whereineach of R1, R2 and R3 is independently a C₁-C₃₀, preferably a C₁-C₂₀,most preferably a C₁-C₁₆ hydrocarbon chain.

In the embodiment of the present invention where the compositions areformulated as emulsions said compositions are opaques. In centrifugationexamination, it was obseryed that said emulsions herein showed no phaseseparation after 15 minutes at 6000 rpm. Under microscopic examination,said emulsions appeared as a dispersion of droplets in a matrix.

In the embodiment of the present invention where the compositions areformulated as microemulsions said compositions are macroscopicallytransparent in the absence of opacifiers and dyes. In centrifugationexamination, it was obseryed that said microemulsions herein showed nophase separation after 15 minutes at 6000 rpm. Under microscopicexamination, said microemulsions appeared as a dispersion of droplets ina matrix. We have obseryed that the particles had a size which istypically around or below 3 micron diameter, preferably below 2 microndiameter. In a preferred embodiment of the emulsions of the presentinvention wherein the emulsions further comprise a non-water solubleingredient to emulsify like a bleach activator as described hereinafter,the emulsifying system meets the equation:${{{HLB}(X)} = {{{\frac{{weight}\quad \% \quad A}{100} \times {{HLB}(A)}} + {\frac{{weight}\quad \% \quad B}{100} \times {{HLB}(B)}{\quad \quad}{and}{weight}\quad \% \quad A} + {{weight}\quad \% \quad B}} = {100\%}}};$

where HLB (X) refers to the HLB of the ingredient to emulsify, ifseveral ingredients are present to emulsify X refers to all of them(weighted average based on % of each ingredient in the formula), HLB (A)refers to the HLB of the hydrophilic surfactant, or mixtures thereof,and HLB (B) refers to the HLB of the hydrophobic surfactant, or mixturesthereof.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the emulsions of the presentinvention, wherein the emulsions may further comprise a bleach activatorlike acetyl triethyl citrate, an adequate surfactant system, wouldcomprise a hydrophobic nonionic surfactant with for instance an HLB of6, such as a Dobanol^(R) 23-2 and a hydrophilic nonionic surfactant withfor instance an HLB of 15, such as a Dobanol^(R) 91-10. Other suitablenonionic surfactant systems comprise for example a Dobanol^(R) 23-6.5(HLB about 12) and a Dobanol^(R) 23 (HLB below 6) or a Dobanol^(R) 45-7(HLB=11.6) and a Dobanol 23-3 (HLB=8.1).

The bleaching compositions of the present invention formulated in theform of emulsions or microemulsions are chemically stable. By“chemically stable” it is meant herein that said compositions of thepresent invention comprising a peroxygen bleach do not undergo more than10% available oxygen loss at 50° C. in 2 weeks. The concentration ofavailable oxygen can be measured by chemical titration methods known inthe art, such as the iodimetric method, the permanganometric method andthe cerimetric method. Said methods and the criteria for the choice ofthe appropriate method are described for example in “Hydrogen Peroxide”, W. C. Schumb, C. N. Satterfield and R. L. Wentworth, ReinholdPublishing Corporation, New York, 1955 and “Organic Peroxides”, DanielSwern, Editor Wiley Int. Science, 1970. Alternatively, the stability ofsaid compositions may also be evaluated by a bulging test method.Accordingly, said bleaching compositions of the present invention may bepackaged in a given deformable container/bottle without compromising thestability of said container/bottle comprising it upon standing, for longperiods of time.

The liquid compositions of the present invention formulated either as anemulsion or microemulsion are typically aqueous and are formulated inthe acidic pH range up to 6, preferably at a pH of from 1 to 5, morepreferably of from 2 to 5 and most preferably from 3 to 5. Formulatingthe compositions of the present invention in the acidic pH rangecontributes to the stability of said compositions. The pH of thecompositions of the present invention can be adjusted by using organicor inorganic acids.

Optionals

The compositions of the present invention may further comprise optionalingredients like bleach activators, stabilisers, chelating agents,radical scavengers, builders, soil suspenders, dye transfer agents,solvents, brighteners, perfumes, foam suppressors or dyes or mixturesthereof.

As an optional but highly preferred ingredient, the compositions of thepresent invention comprise a bleach activator or mixtures thereof. By“bleach activator”, it is meant herein a compound which reacts withhydrogen peroxide to form a peracid. The peracid thus formed constitutesthe activated bleach. Paticularly suitable bleach activators to be usedherein are hydrophobic bleach activators, i.e., a bleach activator whichis not substantially and stably miscible with water. Typically, suchhydrophobic bleach activators have a secondary HLB (hydrophiliclipophilic balance) below 11, preferably below 10. Secondary HLB isknown to those skilled in the art and is defined for example in“Emulsions theory and practice” by P. Becher, Reinhold, New York, 1957,or in “Emulsion science” by P. Sherman, Academic Press, London, 1969.

Suitable bleach activators to be used herein include those belonging tothe class of esters, amides, imides, or anhydrides. Examples of suitablecompounds of this type are disclosed in British Patent GB 1 586 769 andGB 2 143 231 and a method for their formation into a prilled form isdescribed in European Published Patent Application EP-A-62 523. Suitableexamples of such compounds to be used herein are tetracetyl ethylenediamine (TAED), sodium 3,5,5 trimethyl hexanoyloxybenzene sulphonate,diperoxy dodecanoic acid as described for instance in U.S. Pat. No.4,818,425 and nonylamide of peroxyadipic acid as described for instancein U.S. Pat. No. 4,259,201 and n-nonanoyloxybenzenesulphonate (NOBS).Also suitable are N-acyl caprolactams selected from the group consistingof substituted or unsubstituted benzoyl caprolactam, octanoylcaprolactam, nonanoyl caprolactam, hexanoyl caprolactam, decanoylcaprolactam, undecenoyl caprolactam, formyl caprolactam, acetylcaprolactam, propanoyl caprolactam, butanoyl caprolactam pentanoylcaprolactam or mixtures thereof. A particular family of bleachactivators of interest was disclosed in EP 624 154, and particularlypreferred in that family is acetyl triethyl citrate (ATC). Acetyltriethyl citrate has the advantage that it is environmental-friendly asit eventually degrades into citric acid and alcohol. Furthermore, acetyltriethyl citrate has a good hydrolytical stability in the product uponstorage and it is an efficient bleach activator. Finally, it providesgood building capacity to the composition.

The compositions according to the present invention may comprise from0.01% to 20% by weight of the total composition of said bleachactivator, or mixtures thereof, preferably from 1% to 10%, and morepreferably from 3% to 7%.

Suitable chelating agents to be used herein include chelating agentsselected from the group of phosphonate chelating agents, aminocarboxylate chelating agents, polyfunctionally-substituted aromaticchelating agents, and further chelating agents like glycine, salicylicacid, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, malonic acid, or mixtures thereof.Chelating agents when used, are typically present herein in amountsranging from 0.001% to 5% by weight of the total composition andpreferably from 0.05% to 2% by weight.

Suitable phosphonate chelating agents to be used herein may includeethydronic acid as well as amino phosphonate compounds, including aminoalkylene poly (alkylene phosphonate), alkali metal ethane 1-hydroxydiphosphonates, nitrilo trimethylene phosphonates, ethylene diaminetetra methylene phosphonates, and diethylene triamine penta methylenephosphonates. The phosphonate compounds may be present either in theiracid form or as salts of different cations on some or all of their acidfunctionalities. Preferred amino phosphonate chelating agents to be usedherein are diethylene triamine penta methylene phosphonates. Suchphosphonate chelating agents are commercially available from Monsantounder the trade name DEQUESTO®.

The most preferred phosphonate chelating agent to be used herein isaminotri(methylene phosphonic acid), herein referred to as ATMP. Indeed,it has been found that the addition of ATMP, i.e. the compound offormula

in a liquid composition of the present invention considerably reducesthe damage otherwise associated with the pretreatment of fabrics withperoxygen bleach-containing compositions, especially those fabrics whichcontain metal ions, such as copper, iron, chromium, and manganese.

Polyfunctionally-substituted aromatic chelating agents may also beuseful in the compositions herein. See U.S. Pat. No. 3,812,044, issuedMay 21, 1974, to Connor et al. Preferred compounds of this type in acidform are dihydroxydisulfobenzenes such as 1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-disulfobenzene.

A preferred biodegradable chelating agent for use herein is ethylenediamine N,N′-disuccinic acid, or alkali metal, or alkaline earth,ammonium or substitutes ammonium salts thereof or mixtures thereof.Ethylenediamine N,N′-disuccinic acids, especially the (S,S) isomer havebeen extensively described in U.S. Pat. No. 4, 704, 233, Nov. 3, 1987,to Hartman and Perkins. Ethylenediamine N,N′-disuccinic acids is, forinstance, commercially available under the tradename ssEDDS® from PalmerResearch Laboratories.

Suitable amino carboxylates to be used herein include ethylene diaminetetra acetates, diethylene triamine pentaacetates, diethylene triaminepentaacetate (DTPA),N-hydroxyethylethylenediamine triacetates,nitrilotri-acetates, ethylenediamine tetrapropionates,triethylenetetraaminehexa-acetates, ethanol-diglycines, propylenediamine tetracetic acid (PDTA) and methyl glycine di-acetic acid (MGDA),both in their acid form, or in their alkali metal, ammonium, andsubstituted ammonium salt forms. Particularly suitable aminocarboxylates to be used herein are diethylene triamine penta aceticacid, propylene diamine tetracetic acid (PDTA) which is, for instance,commercially available from BASF under the trade name Trilon FS® andmethyl glycine di-acetic acid (MGDA).

Another preferred chelating agent for use herein is of the formula:

wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, and R₄ are independently selected from the groupconsisting of —H, alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, —Cl, —Br, —NO₂, —C(O)R′,and —SO₂R″; wherein R′ is selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH,alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, and aryloxy; R″ is selected from the groupconsisting of alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, and aryloxy; and R₅, R₆, R₇, and R₈are independently selected from the group consisting of —H and alkyl.

Particularly preferred chelating agents to be used herein are ATMP,diethylene triamine methylene phosphonate, ethylene N,N′-disuccinicacid, diethylene triamine pantaacetate, glycine, salicylic acid,aspartic acid, glutamic acid, malonic acid or mixtures thereof andhighly preferred is ATMP.

Suitable radical scavengers for use herein include the well-knownsubstituted mono and dihydroxy benzenes and their analogs, alkyl andaryl carboxylates and mixtures thereof. Preferred such radicalscavengers for use herein include di-tert-butyl hydroxy toluene (BHT),hydroquinone, di-tert-butyl hydroquinone, mono-tert-butyl hydroquinone,tert-butyl-hydroxy anysole, benzoic acid, toluic acid, catechol, t-butylcatechol, benzylamine, 1,1,3-tris(2-methyl-4-hydroxy-5-t-butylphenyl)butane, n-propyl-gallate or mixtures thereof and highly preferred isdi-tert-butyl hydroxy toluene. Radical scavengers when used, aretypically present herein in amounts ranging from 0.001% to 2% by weightof the total composition and preferably from 0.001% to 0.5% by weight.

The presence of chelating agents, especially ATMP, and/or radicalscavengers allows to contribute to the safety profile of thecompositions of the present invention suitable for pretreating a soiledcolored fabric upon prolonged contact times before washing said fabric.

The compositions of the present invention may further comprise up to20%, preferably from 2% to 10% by weight of the total composition of asolvent or mixtures thereof. More particularly, it has been found thatthe addition of a solvent system comprising at least one hydrophobicsolvent and at least one hydrophilic solvent, in a liquid compositionaccording to the present invention, further contributes to the benefitsof said composition, i.e., further improves the overall stain removalperformance on various type of stains including greasy stains, enzymaticstains as well as bleachable stains.

Suitable hydrophobic solvents to be used herein include terpenes likemono-and bicyclic monoterpenes, especially those of the hydrocarbonclass, which include the terpinenes, terpinolenes, limonenes and pinenesand mixtures thereof. Highly preferred materials of this type ared-limonene, dipentene, alpha-pinene and/or beta-pinene. Otherhydrophobic solvents include all type of paraffins, both linear and not,containing from 2 to 20 carbons, preferably from 4 to 10, morepreferably from 6 to 8. Preferred herein is octane. Another hydrophobicsolvent suitable to be used herein is benzyl alcohol. Particularlypreferred hydrophobic solvents to be used herein include d-limonene,dipentene, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, octane, benzyl alcohol, ormixtures thereof.

Suitable hydrophilic solvents to be used herein include alkoxylatedaliphatic alcohols like methoxy propanol, ethoxy propanol, propoxypropanol, buthoxy propanol as well as alkoxylated glycols likeethoxy-ethoxy-ethanol, aliphatic or aromatic alcohols like ethanol,propanol, as well as glycols like propanediol or mixtures thereof.

Any polymeric soil release agent known to those skilled in the art canoptionally be employed in the compositions and processes of thisinvention. Polymeric soil release agents are characterized by havingboth hydrophilic segments, to hydrophilize the surface of hydrophobicfibres, such as polyester and nylon, and hydrophobic segments, todeposit upon hydrophobic fibres and remain adhered thereto throughcompletion of washing and rinsing cycles and, thus, serye as an anchorfor the hydrophilic segments. This can enable stains occurringsubsequent to treatment with the soil release agent to be more easilycleaned in later washing procedures.

The polymeric soil release agents useful herein especially include thosesoil release agents having: (a) one or more nonionic hydrophilecomponents consisting essentially of (i) polyoxyethylene segments with adegree of polymerization of at least 2, or (ii) oxypropylene orpolyoxypropyiene segments with a degree of polymerization of from 2 to10, wherein said hydrophile segment does not encompass any oxypropyleneunit unless it is bonded to adjacent moieties at each end by etherlinkages, or (iii) a mixture of oxyalkylene units comprising oxyethyleneand from 1 to about 30 oxypropylene units wherein said mixture containsa sufficient amount of oxyethylene units such that the hydrophilecomponent has hydrophilicity great enough to increase the hydrophilicityof conventional polyester synthetic fiber surfaces upon deposit of thesoil release agent on such surface, said hydrophile segments preferablycomprising at least about 25% oxyethylene units and more preferably,especially for such components having about 20 to 30 oxypropylene units,at least about 50% oxyethylene units; or (b) one or more hydrophobecomponents comprising (i) C₃ oxyalkylene terephthalate segments,wherein, if said hydrophobe components also comprise oxyethyleneterephthalate, the ratio of oxyethylene terephthalate:C₃ oxyalkyleneterephthalate units is about 2:1 or lower, (ii) C₄-C₆ alkylene or oxyC₄-C₆ alkylene segments, or mixtures therein, (iii) poly (vinyl ester)segments, preferably polyvinyl acetate), having a degree ofpolymerization of at least 2, or (iv) C₁-C₄ alkyl ether or C₄hydroxyalkyl ether substituents, or mixtures therein, wherein saidsubstituents are present in the form of C₁-C₄ alkyl ether or C₄hydroxyalkyl ether cellulose derivatives, or mixtures therein, and suchcellulose derivatives are amphiphilic, whereby they have a sufficientlevel of C₁-C₄ alkyl ether and/or C₄ hydroxyalkyl ether units to depositupon conventional polyester synthetic fiber surfaces and retain asufficient level of hydroxyls, once adhered to such conventionalsynthetic fiber surface, to increase fiber surface hydrophilicity, or acombination of (a) and (b).

Typically, the polyoxyethylene segments of (a)(i) will have a degree ofpolymerization of from about 1 to about 200, although higher levels canbe used, preferably from 3 to about 150, more preferably from 6 to about100. Suitable oxy C₄-C₆ alkylene hydrophobe segments include, but arenot limited to, end-caps of polymeric soil release agents such asMO₃S(CH₂)_(n)OCH₂CH₂O—, where M is sodium and n is an integer from 4-6,as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,580, issued Jan. 26, 1988 toGosselink.

Polymeric soil release agents useful in the present invention alsoinclude cellulosic derivatives such as hydroxyether cellulosic polymers,copolymeric blocks of ethylene terephthalate or propylene terephthalatewith polyethylene oxide or polypropylene oxide terephthalate, and thelike. Such agents are commercially available and include hydroxyethersof cellulose such as METHOCEL (Dow). Cellulosic soil release agents foruse herein also include those selected from the group consisting ofC₁-C₄ alkyl and C₄ hydroxyalkyl cellulose; see U.S. Pat. No. 4,000,093,issued Dec. 28, 1976 to Nicol, et al.

Soil release agents characterized by poly(vinyl ester) hydrophobesegments include graft copolymers of poly(vinyl ester), e.g., C₁-C₆vinyl esters, preferably poly(vinyl acetate) grafted onto polyalkyleneoxide backbones, such as polyethylene oxide backbones. See EuropeanPatent Application 0 219 048, published Apr. 22, 1987 by Kud, et al.Commercially available soil release agents of this kind include theSOKALAN type of material, e.g., SOKALAN HP-22, available from BASF (WestGermany).

One type of preferred soil release agent is a copolymer having randomblocks of ethylene terephthalate and polyethylene oxide (PEO)terephthalate. The molecular weight of this polymeric soil release agentis in the range of from about 25,000 to about 55,000. See U.S. Pat. No.3,959,230 to Hays, issued May 25, 1976 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,929 toBasadur issued Jul. 8, 1975.

Another preferred polymeric soil release agent is a polyester withrepeat units of ethylene terephthalate units which contains 10-15% byweight of ethylene terephthalate units together with 90-80% by weight ofpolyoxyethylene terephthalate units, derived from a polyoxyethyleneglycol of average molecular weight 300-5,000. Examples of this polymerinclude the commercially available material ZELCON 5126 (from Dupont)and MILEASE T (from ICI). See also U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,857, issued Oct.27, 1987 to Gosselink.

Another preferred polymeric soil release agent is a sulfonated productof a substantially linear ester oligomer comprised of an oligomericester backbone of terephthaloyl and oxyalkyleneoxy repeat units andterminal moieties covalently attached to the backbone. These soilrelease agents are described fully in U.S. Pat. No. 4,968,451, issuedNov. 6, 1990 to J. J. Scheibel and E. P. Gosselink. Other suitablepolymeric soil release agents include the terephthalate polyesters ofU.S. Pat. No. 4,711,730, issued Dec. 8, 1987 to Gosselink et al, theanionic end-capped oligomeric esters of U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,580, issuedJan. 26, 1988 to Gosselink, and the block polyester oligomeric compoundsof U.S. Pat. No. 4,702,857, issued Oct. 27, 1987 to Gosselink.

Preferred polymeric soil release agents also include the soil releaseagents of U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,896, issued Oct. 31, 1989 to Maldonado etal, which discloses anionic, especially sulfoaroyl, end-cappedterephthalate esters.

Still another preferred soil release agent is an oligomer with repeatunits of terephthaloyl units, sulfoisoterephthaloyl units,oxyethyleneoxy and oxy-1,2-propylene units. The repeat units form thebackbone of the oligomer and are preferably terminated with modifiedisethionate end-caps. A particularly preferred soil release agent ofthis type comprises about one sulfoisophthaloyl unit, 5 terephthaloylunits, oxyethyleneoxy and oxy-1,2-propyleneoxy units in a ratio of fromabout 1.7 to about 1.8, and two end-cap units of sodium2-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-ethanesulfonate. Said soil release agent alsocomprises from about 0.5% to about 20%, by weight of the oligomer, of acrystalline-reducing stabilizer, preferably selected from the groupconsisting of xylene sulfonate, cumene sulfonate, toluene sulfonate, andmixtures thereof. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,41 5,807, issued May 16, 1995, toGosselink et al.

If utilized, soil release agents will generally comprise from about0.01% to about 10.0%, by weight, of the detergent compositions herein,typically from about 0.1% to about 5%, preferably from about 0.2% toabout 3.0%.

The compositions of the present invention may also include one or morematerials effective for inhibiting the transfer of dyes from one dyedsurface to another during the cleaning process. Generally, such dyetransfer inhibiting agents include polyvinyl pyrrolidone polymers,polyamine N-oxide polymers, copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone andN-vinylimidazole, manganese phthalocyanine, peroxidases, and mixturesthereof. If used, these agents typically comprise from about 0.01% toabout 10% by weight of the composition, preferably from about 0.01% toabout 5%, and more preferably from about 0.05% to about 2%.

More specifically, the polyamine N-oxide polymers preferred for useherein contain units having the following structural formula: R—A_(X)—P;wherein P is a polymerizable unit to which an N—O group can be attachedor the N—O group can form part of the polymerizable unit or the N—Ogroup can be attached to both units; A is one of the followingstructures: —NC(O)—, —C(O)O—, —S—, —O—, —N=; x is 0 or 1; and R isaliphatic, ethoxylated aliphatics, aromatics, heterocyclic or alicyclicgroups or any combination thereof to which the nitrogen of the N—O groupcan be attached or the N—O group is part of these groups. Preferredpolyamine N-oxides are those wherein R is a heterocyclic group such aspyridine, pyrrole, imidazole, pyrrolidine, piperidine and derivativesthereof.

The N—O group can be represented by the following general structures:

wherein R₁, R₂, R₃ are aliphatic, aromatic, heterocyclic or alicyclicgroups or combinations thereof; x, y and z are 0 or 1; and the nitrogenof the N—O group can be attached or form part of any of theaforementioned groups.

The amine oxide unit of the polyamine N-oxides has a pKa<10, preferablypKa<7, more preferred pKa<6.

Any polymer backbone can be used as long as the amine oxide polymerformed is water-soluble and has dye transfer inhibiting properties.Examples of suitable polymeric backbones are polyvinyls, polyalkylenes,polyesters, polyethers, polyamide, polyimides, polyacrylates andmixtures thereof. These polymers include random or block copolymerswhere one monomer type is an amine N-oxide and the other monomer type isan N-oxide. The amine N-oxide polymers typically have a ratio of amineto the amine N-oxide of 10:1 to 1:1,000,000. However, the number ofamine oxide groups present in the polyamine oxide polymer can be variedby appropriate copolymerization or by an appropriate degree ofN-oxidation. The polyamine oxides can be obtained in almost any degreeof polymerization. Typically, the average molecular weight is within therange of 500 to 1,000,000; more preferred 1,000 to 500,000; mostpreferred 5,000 to 100,000. This preferred class of materials can bereferred to as “PVNO”. The most preferred polyamine N-oxide useful inthe detergent compositions herein is poly(4-vinylpyridine-N-oxide) whichas an average molecular weight of about 50,000 and an amine to amineN-oxide ratio of about 1:4.

Copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone and N-vinylimidazole polymers (referredto as a class as “PVPVI”) are also preferred for use herein. Preferablythe PVPVI has an average molecular weight range from 5,000 to 1,000,000,more preferably from 5,000 to 200,000, and most preferably from 10,000to 20,000. (The average molecular weight range is determined by lightscattering as described in Barth, et al., Chemical Analysis, Vol 113.“Modern Methods of Polymer Characterization”, the disclosures of whichare incorporated herein by reference.) The PVPVI copolymers typicallyhave a molar ratio of N-vinylimidazole to N-vinylpyrrolidone from 1:1 to0.2:1, more preferably from 0.8:1 to 0.3:1, most preferably from 0.6:1to 0.4:1. These copolymers can be either linear or branched.

The present invention compositions may also employ apolyvinylpyrrolidone (“PVP”) having an average molecular weight of fromabout 5,000 to about 400,000, preferably from about 5,000 to about200,000, and more preferably from about 5,000 to about 50,000. PVP's areknown to persons skilled in the detergent field; see, for example,EP-A-262,897 and EP-A-256,696, incorporated herein by reference.Compositions containing PVP can also contain polyethylene glycol (“PEG”)having an average molecular weight from about 500 to about 100,000,preferably from about 1,000 to about 10,000. Preferably, the ratio ofPEG to PVP on a ppm basis delivered in wash solutions is from about 2:1to about 50:1, and more preferably from about 3:1 to about 10:1.

If high sudsing is desired, suds boosters such as C₁₀-C₁₆ alkanolamidescan be incorporated into the compositions, typically at 1%-10% levels.The C₁₀-C₁₄ monoethanol and diethanol amides illustrate a typical classof such suds boosters. Use of such suds boosters with high sudsingadjunct surfactants such as the amine oxides, betaines and sultainesnoted above is also advantageous. If desired, soluble magnesium saltssuch as MgCl₂, MgSO₄, and the like, can be added at levels of, forexample, 0.1%-2%, to provide additional suds and to enhance greaseremoval performance.

Any optical brighteners, fluorescent whitening agents or otherbrightening or whitening agents known in the art can be incorporated inthe instant compositions when they are designed for fabric treatment orlaundering, at levels typically from about 0.05% to about 1.2%, byweight, of the detergent compositions herein. Commercial opticalbrighteners which may be useful in the present invention can beclassified into subgroups, which include, but are not necessarilylimited to, derivatives of stilbene, pyrazoline, coumarin, carboxylicacids, methinecyanines, dibenzothiophene-5,5-dioxide, azoles, 5- and6-membered-ring heterocyclic brighteners, this list being illustrativeand non-limiting. Examples of such brighteners are disclosed in “TheProduction and Application of Fluorescent Brightening Agents”, M.Zahradnik, Published by John Wiley & Sons, New York (1982).

Specific examples of optical brighteners which are useful in the presentcompositions are those identified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,790,856, issued toWixon on Dec. 13, 1988. These brighteners include the PHORWHITE seriesof brighteners from Verona. Other brighteners disclosed in thisreference include: Tinopal UNPA, Tinopal CBS and Tinopal 5BM; availablefrom Ciba-Geigy; Artic White CC and Artic White CWD, available fromHilton-Davis, located in Italy; the2-(4-styryl-phenyl)-2H-naphthol[1,2-d]triazoles;4,4′-bis-(1,2,3-triazol-2-yl)-stil-benes; 4,4′-bis(styryl)bisphenyls;and the aminocoumarins. Specific examples of these brighteners include4-methyl-7-diethyl- amino coumarin; 1,2-bis(-benzimidazol-2-yl)ethylene;2,5-bis(benzoxazol-2-yl)thiophene; 2-styryl-napth-[1,2-d]oxazole; and2-(stilbene-4-yl)-2H-naphth- [1,2-d]triazole. See also U.S. Pat. No.3,646,015, issued Feb. 29, 1972 to Hamilton. Anionic brighteners aretypically preferred herein.

Although the preferred application of the compositions described hereinis laundry pretreatment as described hereinbefore, the compositions ofthe present invention may also be used as a laundry detergent or as alaundry detergent booster and as a household cleaner in the bathroom orin the kitchen.

The compositions of the present invention suitable for pretreatingfabrics can be packaged in a variety of containers includingconventional bottles, bottles equipped with roll-on, sponge, brusher orsprayers.

The present invention will be further illustrated by the followingexamples.

EXAMPLES

The following compositions were made by mixing the listed ingredients inthe listed proportions (weight % unless otherwise specified).

Compositions I II III IV V VI Dobanol ® 45-7 6.4 6.4 6.4 1.5 12.0  6.0Dobanol ® 23-3 8.6 8.6 8.6 — — 6.0 Dobanol ® 23-6.5 — — — 1.5 — —C25-AE-2.5-S 4.0 4.0 4.0 1.5 12.0  6.0 Alkyl glucose amide 2.0 2.0 2.0 —— — ATC* 3.5 3.5 3.5 — 3.5 — H₂O₂ 4.0 4.0 4.0 — 6.0 4.0 Dilauroylperoxide 0.5 — — 1.0 — 2.0 Ethoxylated 15-18 tetraethylenepentamine 0.50.5 0.5 0.2 1.0 0.7 Limonene D(+) — — 0.5 0.1 0.5 1.0 Benzoyl alcohol —— 2.0 1.0 — — 1-methoxy-2 propanol — — 5.0 — 2.0 3.0 ATMP** 0.2 0.1 — —0.16 — Water and minors up to 100% H2SO4 up to pH 4 *ATC is acetyltriethyl citrate. Dobanol ® 23-3 is a C12-C13 nonionic ethoxylatedsurfactant with HLB of 8.1. Dobanol ® 23-6.5 is a C12-C13 nonionicethoxylated surfactant with HLB of 11.9. Dobanol ® 45-7 is a C14-C15nonionic ethoxylated surfactant with HLB of 11.6. **ATMP isaminotri(methylene phosphonic acid).

Excellent stain removal performance is obtained on a variety of stainsincluding greasy/oily stains like clay, dirty motor oil, make-up,lipstick, carotenoid-type stains like spaghetti sauce, bleachable stainslike tea and enzymatic stains like grass, blood, when pretreating soiledfabrics with any of the compositions I to VI, as described above, e.g.,when leaving such a composition to act onto the fabrics for a contactperiod of about 5 minutes, before rinsing said fabrics with water orwashing with a conventional detergent composition like Tide® powder at adilution level of , for example, 1 to 400.

What is claimed is:
 1. A process of bleaching a fabric with a liquidcomposition having a pH from 1 to 5 comprising from 0.01% to 15% byweight of the total composition of peroxygen bleach, and a soildispersing agent which is an ethoxylated amine polymer of the formula:

whereas X is a Hydrogen; w is 1 or 0; x+y+z is at least 2, y+z is atleast 2; and n is at least 3; said polymer selected from the groupconsisting of ethoxylated polyethyleneamines having a molecular weightof from 140 to 310 prior to ethoxylation and ethoxylatedpolyethyleneimines having a molecular weight of 600 to 1800 prior toethoxylation, said process comprising the step of applying saidcomposition in its neat form onto at least a portion of the fabric,before said fabric is washed.
 2. A process according to claim 1 whereinsaid composition is allowed to remain in contact with said fabric from 1minute to 1 hour, before said fabric is washed.
 3. A process accordingto claim 2 wherein said composition is allowed to remain in contact withsaid fabric from 1 minute to 30 minutes, before said fabric is washed.4. A process according to claim 2 wherein said composition is allowed toremain in contact with said fabric from 2 minutes to 10 minutes, beforesaid fabric is washed.
 5. A process according to claim 1, wherein saidperoxygen bleach is hydrogen peroxide or a water-soluble source thereofselected from the group consisting of percarbonate, persilicate,persulphate, perborate, peroxyacids, hydroperoxides, diacyl peroxidesand mixtures thereof.
 6. A process according to claim 1 wherein saidcomposition comprises from 0.1% to about 12% by weight of the totalcomposition of said peroxygen bleach, or mixtures thereof.
 7. A processaccording to claim 1 wherein said composition comprises from 0.5% to 10%by weight of the total composition of said peroxygen bleach, or mixturesthereof.
 8. A process according to claim 1 wherein said compositioncomprises from 0.01% to 20% by weight of the total composition of saidsoil dispersing agent, or mixtures thereof.
 9. A process according toclaim 8 wherein said composition comprises from 0.1% to 10% by weight ofthe total composition of said soil dispersing agent, or mixturesthereof.
 10. A process according to claim 8 wherein said compositioncomprises from 0.2% to about 4% by weight of the total composition ofsaid soil dispersing agent, or mixtures thereof.
 11. A process accordingto claim 1 wherein said composition further comprises a bleach activatoror mixtures thereof.
 12. A process according to claim 2 wherein saidcomposition comprises said bleach activator or mixtures thereof, at alevel of from 0.01% to 20% by weight of the total composition.
 13. Aprocess according to claim 12 wherein said composition comprises saidbleach activator or mixtures thereof at a level of from 1% to 10% byweight of the total composition.
 14. A process according to claim 12wherein said bleach activator is selected from the group consisting ofacetyl triethyl citrate, tetracetyl ethylene diamine, sodium 3,5,5trimethyl hexanoyloxybenzene sulphonate, diperoxy dodecanoic acid,nonylamide of peroxyadipic acid, n-nonanoyloxybenzenesulphonate, N-acylcaprolactam, substituted and unsubstituted benzoyl caprolactam, octanoylcaprolactam, nonanoyl caprolactam, hexanoyl caprolactam, decanoylcaprolactam, undecenoyl caprolactam, formyl caprolactam, acetylcaprolactam, propanoyl caprolactam, butanoyl caprolactam, pentanoylcaprolactam and mixtures thereof.